Yet another new BT3100 owner.

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  • gfrenzel
    Forum Newbie
    • Jan 2006
    • 51
    • Sulphur, LA, USA.
    • BT3100

    #1

    Yet another new BT3100 owner.

    Hello everyone,

    I’m another proud owner of a new BT3100 (two weeks late in posting[:I]). I’m also new to woodworking and it’s all because of Rita, that’s hurricane Rita. I had 5 trees that fell in my backyard during the storm, which I donated all five of them to one backyard neighbor (one on his house, three in his pool, and one on his boat cover). It took me two weeks to get all of those trees and their root systems out of my backyard and my neighbor’s (I was a good neighbor). Fixing my fence and re-seeding the grass in the backyard, I decide to build out my little L-shape storage building into a 11x17 woodworking shop. It’s probably small but it’s a start. I just finished the shop mid-January and it was time to buy the centerpiece – the TS.

    When I finally decided on the BT3100, my local HD didn’t have one in stock. They kept pushing the date for them to arrive further and further to the middle of February. I didn’t want to lose out on the $50 savings that I heard about on this site. So I call and drove to Orange Texas (30 min away) to pick one up. That was two weeks ago and I’m in the middle of building a Full-Service Workbench http://store.woodstore.net/fulwor.html from Woodplans. I’ve been taking my time, being really safe and enjoying every minute of it. I hope to have pictures once I’m through.

    Over the past month this site has taught me a lot about TS and the BT3100. I consider this being The BEST site every. I visit it just about everyday looking for the daily Bargain alerts and seeing what new topics people are talking about. I hope to become a seasoned woodworker like my uncle. With the help on my new friends here at BT3Central, I think that goal is reachable. Thanks for making this a great site.
    Garth
    HE took my nails. <><
  • Ken Weaver
    Veteran Member
    • Feb 2004
    • 2417
    • Clemson, SC, USA
    • Rigid TS3650

    #2
    Welcome aboard Garth, make sawdust, have fun, and be safe. BTW - were you able to salvage any of the trees into lumber for your projects?
    Ken Weaver
    Clemson, SC

    "A mistake is absolute proof that someone tried to do something!

    Comment

    • BobSch
      Veteran Member
      • Aug 2004
      • 4385
      • Minneapolis, MN, USA.
      • BT3100

      #3
      Welcome to the gang. Paint the red line and start makin' some sawdust.

      Bob

      Bad decisions make good stories.

      Comment

      • gfrenzel
        Forum Newbie
        • Jan 2006
        • 51
        • Sulphur, LA, USA.
        • BT3100

        #4
        quote:Originally posted by Ken Weaver

        Welcome aboard Garth, make sawdust, have fun, and be safe. BTW - were you able to salvage any of the trees into lumber for your projects?
        At the time, I wasn't thinking about making lumber. It was my first major hurricane through my hometown. I was in shock at the breath-taking site of the devastation in our neighborhood. There are still people around town that have trees down in their yards. I guess I need to go find a sawmill. Looking at your pics it looks like you make your own lumber.
        Garth
        HE took my nails. <><

        Comment

        • Wood_workur
          Veteran Member
          • Aug 2005
          • 1914
          • Ohio
          • Ryobi bt3100-1

          #5
          Welcome! Have fun, and be safe.
          Alex

          Comment

          • gmack5
            Veteran Member
            • Dec 2002
            • 1972
            • Quapaw, Oklahoma, USA.
            • Ryobi BT3000SX & BT3100

            #6
            Welcome Garth,

            Congratulations on the acquisition of your BT3100 and welcome to the "family".

            One of the first things you need to do, after you get your BT3100 Saw assembled is, following your Owner's Manual, go thru the entire set-up proceedure, step by step, in the sequence laid out in the Manual. Each set up proceedure builds on the one before it, so you MUST keep them in sequence.
            Usually the Saw is set up properly, right out of the box, but you should still check it as this gets you familiar with all the adjustments on the saw and assures you that everything is as it should be.

            The Illustration shown below is of a BT3000.
            Most of the accessories shown will also fit the BT3100.



            Here's some free plans that'll keep you busy for a while. http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/r...ex.php?cat=102

            And here's some additional information about your Saw that you may find useful.

            Regardless of what you've read or others have told you, NEVER NEVER use any wax or lubricant on your saw that contains Silicone, this includes all automobile waxes and polishes and most spray-on furniture polishes. The reason is simple, most of them contain Silicones and they will make your projects difficult to finish.
            Silicones repell liquid, making "fish eyes" in your finishes, this will force you to remove the Silicones from your project and start over. That stuff (Silicone) migrates all over every where, don't ask me how, it just does.
            If you put it in one place, eventually it will be all over the
            entire saw.

            Your best bet is to use a "dry" lubricant, such as Teflon (PTFE), Powdered Graphite, or Candle Wax for the Raising/Lowering and Tilt mechanisms below the table top.

            Then use either Johnson's Paste Wax, Minwax's "Finishing Wax" or Butcher's Wax on the working surfaces, table tops (All three of them) and the Rip Fence.

            Do NOT Wax the Front and Rear rails or the Miter Fence. As a mater of fact, you may want to glue 220 grit sand-paper to the front face of the Miter Fence, cause you don't WANT things to slide on there.

            You might also want to check out the "Articles" section on the www.BT3central.com site. Lots of good maintenance information on your saw and some of the Jigs and Fixtures that BT3Central members and others have designed for it. Located here: http://www.bt3central.com/articles/ The only thing you'll need to access the information is a recent copy of the Adobe Reader (It can be downloaded from the BTcentral site). One of the Articles mentioned is a "Check List", written by Jim Frye. You can find it here: https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...nce-check-list

            This list contains all the different areas on your saw that need to be periodically inspected or given some sort of special attention. In other words, a "Preventative Maintanence Check List" or PM. Performing this PM on a monthly basis would be a good idea. One of the other things you'll find there is an on-line copy of the User's Manual in downloadable pdf format (a handy thing to have).

            Something you might think about is the use of a set of Draftsman's Triangles instead of the Carpenter's Square that they show in the Owner's Manual for setting up your saw.
            An accurate Carpenter's Square is almost a myth!
            A good one will cost you quite a bit of money, $40 - $75, or more. I would recommend that you consider using a pair of Draftsman's 30 -60 and 45 degree triangles instead. You'll find they're not near as expensive and are far more accurate than a run-of-the-mill Carpenter's Square. The 30 -60 triangle should have one 12" leg and the other leg would be 9" long. The 45 degree triangle should have at least 8" legs on either side of the 90 degree corner. That way either one can be put up against the side of the Saw Blade without touching the saw teeth.

            Just remember, regardless of which measuring instrument you choose to use, check it(them) to be sure they're accurate. When checking the Miter Fence for Square to the Blade with a triangle, use the 12" 30-60, if possible.

            One of the other "tricks" that I've discovered is to take a piece of "Wax" paper, fold it several times and rub it in the grooves that the "T" nuts that lock your Rails in place ride in. Makes the Rails move smooth as Butter.

            You might also want to check out the "FAQ" shown in the link below.
            http://www.bt3central.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=12490
            It'll answer a lot of your questions.

            Last, but not least, don't forget to paint the RED line!
            It's a line that extends the line-of-sight from the saw blade to the front edge of the table to remind you NOT to let your Miter Fence or your FINGERS get in the way of the saw blade. Just put red paint, nail polish, or what ever, in the grove that extends towards the operator from the front edge of the saw blade.






            Stop thinking why you can't and Start thinking how you CAN!
            Remember, SUCCESS comes in CANS!
            George

            Comment

            • mater
              Veteran Member
              • Jan 2004
              • 4197
              • SC, USA.

              #7
              Welcome to the forum Garth. Glad you decided to join the group.
              Ken aka "mater"

              " People may doubt what you say but they will never doubt what you do "

              Ken's Den

              Comment

              • bigstick509
                Veteran Member
                • Dec 2004
                • 1227
                • Macomb, MI, USA.
                • BT3100

                #8

                Mike

                "It's not the things you don't know that will hurt you, it's the things you think you know that ain't so." - Mark Twain

                Comment

                • monte
                  ***** Windbag
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 5242
                  • Paw Paw, MI, USA.
                  • GI 50-185M

                  #9
                  Welcome to the group Garth. Be safe and enjoy your new saw.
                  Monte (another darksider)
                  Reporting Live from somewhere near Kalamazoo

                  http://community.webshots.com/user/monte49002

                  Comment

                  • Pappy
                    The Full Monte
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 10490
                    • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                    • BT3000 (x2)

                    #10
                    Welcome to the Asylum, Garth!
                    Don, aka Pappy,

                    Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                    Fools because they have to say something.
                    Plato

                    Comment

                    • davehenry
                      Forum Newbie
                      • Nov 2005
                      • 46
                      • Slidell, LA, USA.
                      • BT3100-1

                      #11
                      Well, well, well. Another BT3 user in Louisiana. Katrina laid trees on both of my neighbors but spared us. Anyway, welcome Garth.
                      "I can't be unhinged -- I already installed them!"

                      Comment

                      • silverfox
                        Veteran Member
                        • Jul 2003
                        • 2863
                        • Richland Center WI, USA.
                        • BT3100

                        #12
                        Welcome to the cult, Garth! Keep up the good work and stick around.
                        Mike

                        Comment

                        • leehljp
                          The Full Monte
                          • Dec 2002
                          • 8793
                          • Tunica, MS
                          • BT3000/3100

                          #13
                          Welcome Garth, Glad to have you here. Join in the fun! Post some picts of your work bench - we would love to see it!

                          I spent last week end in Raceland and Houma. I lived there 25 years ago. I was surprised how little damage they had since they were so close to N.O.; Houma sure has grown and changed. Didn't get over to Thibadaux but some friends from there came to see me.

                          Bought 10 pounds of Community coffee! 4 pounds with chickory! MUCH better than starbucks in my opinion!

                          Again, Welcome!
                          Hank Lee

                          Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

                          Comment

                          • gad5264
                            Veteran Member
                            • Aug 2005
                            • 1407
                            • Columbus, Ohio, USA
                            • BT3000/BT3100NIB

                            #14
                            Welcome and enjoy the saw, you will be happy with it
                            Grant
                            "GO Buckeyes"

                            My projects: http://community.webshots.com/user/gad5264

                            Comment

                            • lcm1947
                              Veteran Member
                              • Sep 2004
                              • 1490
                              • Austin, Texas
                              • BT 3100-1

                              #15
                              Welcome Garth. That sure sounded like work clearing that mess up. Looks like you picked an extremely nice looking workbench and sounds like you are going about it the right way. Take your time and enjoy it. That's what this woodworking is all about. Be safe and watch those fingers and hands. Be seeing you around.
                              May you die and go to heaven before the Devil knows you're dead. My Best, Mac

                              Comment

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